Inliners International Forums General Discussion Drive Train 3:38 Gears?

Hey ther inliners,it's been a while since I've been here.Trying to keep my rpm's down on the 14 freeway going to L.A. wow I'm running about 3000 rpm's at about 62 mph. and being run over.Need to locate some 3:38 gears for my 55 chevy truck.Where do I find a set? can't seem to locate any.

Hi, Haley,
You didn't say what kind of rear end your truck is running, but I know that the early Nova station wagons used a 3.36 10-bolt 8.2" rear end gear set, because I have an early Nova wagon. If your truck uses the 10-bolt 8.2" gears, it should be a fairly easy swap, and you can get the ring and pinion from Jeg's or Summit Racing or if you're up on GM codes, from a bone yard. A lot of other GM cars used the same gears besides the Nova wagons, but I'm not sure which ones just off the top of my head. Should be fairly easy to look up with a little research, though. If you're looking for gears for mileage, all 6 cyl Novas other than the wagons came with 3.08 gears in the rear end, as well as standard Chevys with 6 cyl engines.

I'm not sure if the center section is an exact swap but 56 & 57 Chevy passenger cars with a V8 and Powerglide came from the factory with 3.36 rear gear. If you come across one out of the housing they have 37 teeth ring and 11 teeth pinion.

Cars and trucks are different.

If you try the links section in the sidebar, you'll find Randys ring and pinion. He has it as well as Patricks.

http://www.ring-pinion.com/content/products/default.asp?vid=4&pid=4&aid=9&rid=24

Another option is find a 55-59 GMC truck rear end. They are a straight bolt on and come with 3:08 gears. I have one in my 59 Fleetside, 235 w/Saginaw 4 sp. Cruises nicely on the hiway!

I'm with Moondog. Check the 59through 62 rear ends. They have a 3:36 and 3:08 ratios if you are lucky enough to find one.

I have a '55 chevy p/u and installed 3.38 gears in it. Ordered it from Obsolete chevy in Nashville,GA. That was in 1996..cost was $399.00.Hope this helps..Bo